ÇAPATEIRO, JOSEPH (designated also, even by the more modern Portuguese historians, such as Mendes dos Remedios, as José Çapateiro de Lamego, or "Joseph, Shoemaker of Lamego"):

Portuguese traveler of the fifteenth century. After a so-journ in Bagdad, he returned to Lisbon to present a report to King João II. on Ormuz, the emporium of the East-Indian spice trade. He thereupon, by the king's orders, set out in company with the experienced linguist, Abraham of Beja, in search of the roving explorer, Pedro de Covilhão, in order to interview the latter in the king's behalf as to the results of his travels. After obtaining valuable information regarding the discovery of the sea route to India from Covilhão, who had previously gathered it from Arabian and Indian pilots, Joseph was sent home by caravan to Aleppo. Both Joseph and Abraham, his fellow-traveler, thus rendered eminent pioneer service in the cause of Portuguese discovery.